Wigner-Eckart theorem for the non-compact algebra sl(2,R)

Abstract

The Wigner-Eckart theorem is a well known result for tensor operators of su(2) and, more generally, any compact Lie algebra. In this paper the theorem will be generalized to the particular non-compact case of sl(2,R). In order to do so, recoupling theory between representations that are not necessarily unitary will be studied, namely between finite-dimensional and infinite-dimensional representations. As an application, the Wigner-Eckart theorem will be used to construct an analogue of the Jordan-Schwinger representation, previously known only for representations in the discrete class, which also covers the continuous class.